Epiphany of the Lord, 2026

Image credit: Adoration of the Magi by Pekka Halonen, shamelessly pinched from here. 

 

Merry Christmas, Day 12

 

Image credit: Adoration of the Kings, Fritz Freund Anbetung der Könige, shamelessly pinched from Wiki.

Click to enlarge! 

Continuing with the Kings theme since we are between Epiphany celebrations. 

Merry Christmas, Day 11, Epiphany in the U.S.

 

Image credit: Virgin and Child flanked by Archangels by a follower of Fre Seyon. 

Shamelessly pinched from here. 

Highly recommend Pope Leo's homily for New Year's Day. It's a reflection on human freedom and the best way to use our freedom in the new year. 

In Mary’s divine motherhood, then, we see the meeting of two immense, “unarmed” realities: that of God, who renounces every privilege of his divinity to be born in the flesh (cf. Phil 2:6-11), and that of a human person who, trustingly and fully, embraces God’s will. In a perfect act of love, she offers him the greatest power she possesses: her freedom.

And because it's Epiphany in the U.S.: Nations Shall Walk by Your Light

Merry Christmas, Day 10

Image credit: Rest on the Flight Into Egypt, Luc Olivier Merson. Shamelessly pinched from wiki. 

 Dorothy Day's New Year's Resolutions. 

Tony Esolen on the prologue of St. John & Christmas

Merry Christmas, Day 9, Basil & Gregory

Image credit: Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Bartolomé Murillo. Shamelessly pinched from Wiki

I grew up singing "St. Basil's hymn" as a Christmas Carol from Alan Mills' Christmas Songs from Many Lands.  Here is a hammered dulcimer version that is hauntingly beautiful and fascinating to watch. 

Also, I think this guy has the right idea.  (I do make resolutions, but usually at the close of my annual retreat. Not now, for these reasons). 

Ring Out, Wild Bells

Scott Adams is passing away. This thread documents the number of people who found sobriety or the strength to tackle a big challenge through his work. It's nice he gets to see the tributes. 

Books Read, 2025

This is a post to aid the organic hard drive and not truly for public consumption.  Hard year, light on good reading. 

Scripture 
Matthew
Luke
Virtually the entire Bible for a class  

Popery 
Dilexi te

Shakespeare 

Merry Wives of Windsor

Devotional & Professional 
Adventure Awaits! 
Be Good Bankers 
Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word, vol. 2 
Hannah's Children 
Spirit of Democratic Capitalism 

Book Club[s]
Billy Budd 
The Boys in the Boat
The Bridge of San Luis Rey 
Ethan Frome 
The Feast
Herodotus' Histories (Books 7-10) 
My Name is Asher Lev
The Odyssey (2x -- Lattimore & Sachs translations) 

Just Felt Like It 
I Cheerfully Refuse
Jeeves & Wooster Short Stories
A Song of Comfortable Chairs 
They Flew 

Make Our Hearts Like Yours 

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola: With Points for Personal Prayer From Jesuit Spiritual Masters

Undaunted Joy

Merry Christmas, Day 8, Happy New Year!

Image credit: Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Philipp Otto Runge. Shamelessly pinched from here.

To read: on the happiness in Happy New Year. 

Fr. Schall from 20 years ago today on Amiability

If you understand Italian, Pope Leo's remarks at the Te Deum/ First Vespers of the Mother of God last night are lovely (about 35 minutes in). 

 

Merry Christmas, Day 7, St. Sylvester

Image credit: Flight into Egypt, Lu Hungrian (or so says Google Images)

New Year's Eve. This has been the strangest Advent-into-Christmas I can recall.  December has been a steady stream of passings: not tragic deaths, because most of those who succumbed were believers who lived long lives and died well and I reconnected with a lot of people who mean something to me but whom I never see (like that Lyle Lovett song).  But I mean a steady stream --three funerals the week before Christmas alone, and we had to put our old dog down, which hurts more than I feel it should, and I couldn't even tell anyone because they were all burying their spouses or parents, so what was I going to say?  Yesterday morning came word of two more passings: a friend, and a friend's spouse. Both probably mercies given the degree of suffering in illness, but still....  I have several friends battling aggressive cancers right now. Even my favorite commentators on the news are seemingly all in health crises!  We do not mourn as those who have no faith, and there is a terrible beauty in death: what is more sad, noble, and hopeful than Ben Sasse's attitude towards his impending death? 

Nevertheless, I keep trying to rejoice, or at least not stand in the way of others doing so -- willed the sad carcass through the decorating and baking and cooking, compelled myself to go caroling with the parish, have put in appearances at anniversary parties. These things help: welcome little moments of grace and reprieve. But Sister Death keeps breaking in to take over the conversation and reduce all reflection to silence and one realization:  death is a violation of the natural order and I really need a Savior. 

It seems as if other people are feeling this too: Did you know Niall Ferguson has become Christian? I keep running across these surprising conversions, and they all have this flavor of: I really need a Savior. 

Odds and Ends

A little Ratzinger Reflection on New Year's Eve helps. 

Today is the anniversary of BXVI's passing. Listen to Card. Mueller's homily on a mass for the occasion (English!). 

And a funny little moment with BXVI. 

Pope Leo recommends a thorough examination of conscience and Te Deum to end the year. 

Amy Welborn on the Te Deum. 

Throw-back to what I think is the first year I did these 12 Days observances -- how can it be twenty years ago? Optional Memorial of Pope St. Sylvester: if it's cold enough, make his punch.

Possible palate cleanser:  this reflection on Miracle on 34th St.